Get Your Car Into Gear For Winter

Date

11/4/2017 9:06:32 PM

(MENAFNEditorial)

Winter is setting in and preparing your car for the change in season is probably not top of your priority list – but perhaps it should be! Not only is your car essential to your day-to-day life, it's also at its most vulnerable during the colder months.

To support the launch of TyreSafe's National Tyre Safety Month (October), premium tyre maker Hankook, has created a list of top tips to provide advice and guidance for drivers on how to prepare their vehicle to ensure they stay safe, whatever the conditions.

Mark Grace, marketing manager at Hankook comments: 'Winter motoring requires care and preparation to avoid a breakdown or accident. We believe it is vital to raise awareness of the little things that you can do before setting out on a journey to make sure you get to your destination safely. With temperatures starting to drop, now is the time for motorists to prepare.'

Top 10 tips for preparing your car for winter

With darker mornings and evenings, headlights, brake and fog lights need to work properly. Bad weather can affect visibility especially in extreme weather conditions and you need to make sure you are seen, and can see.
During the winter, nothing suffers more than tyres. Firstly, check the air pressure and make sure that all tyres are inflated to the correct levels.
If the pressure is at the right level, then make sure that there is adequate tread and no splits. If you do need a new set, look for tyres suitable for tougher conditions. Hankook's range of winter tyres have been designed with an optimised tread pattern to bite into the snow and improve traction. Your local Hankook stockist will be able to advise on the correct tyre to suit your vehicle.
Get a full brake check at a garage. In rain, snow or ice you need your brakes to be in tip-top condition to ensure they are working at their best.
Ensure your coolant is between the minimum and maximum lines and check that there is sufficient anti-freeze in the coolant. A frozen engine can be very expensive to repair!
Double check screen wash. Make sure you keep it topped up and make sure your windscreen wipers are in good condition. If your windscreen does get icy, never use hot water as it could crack the glass.
Oil consumption increases in colder weather so keep an eye on levels to ensure you don't do damage to your car.
The car battery is often the main culprit for any breakdown during the winter. If your battery is over three years old, it's best to get it checked anyway. Make sure when you leave your car that you switch off all lights, windscreen wipers and any other electrical devices you have in your car.
Check weather conditions before you set out on your journey so you know what to expect. Take a fully charged phone with you in case of emergencies.
Fill up with fuel and keep an emergency kit in the car which includes things like warm clothing, boots, flashlight, food and drink, blankets and a high-visibility jacket.

Hankook Tire is one of the world's top five companies in the mass production of tyres. It produces superior quality, high performance radial tyres for passenger cars, 4x4s, SUVs, light trucks, campers, trucks, buses and motorsport vehicles.

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